While the gift of the internet has made many brands accessible no matter where you live (thank you Al Gore!) it can be worth the effort to seek out a brand-specific boutique or store.  Here is where you will have the advantage of a full selection as well be able to take a peek at the atmosphere and mood the designer is working to create.  It can be fun to see how a designer or brand makes their image tangible.  It is a type of fashion safari where you can …

If you are digging the Mad Men style – the glamour, panache, and confident-cool, you can find yourself all dressed up with no place to go.  To be sure, finding the right outfit can be a far cry easier from finding a place with enough style to meet you more than half-way.  For those in San Diego this isn’t such a dilemma. 
When the mood strikes, look no further than The Wellington in Mission Hills.  You will be met by a stellar menu that mixes classic dishes, such as the signature …

Having dinner at DINK’s in Palm Springs reminded me of two forgotten life experiences: the last house party I went to in France and the first time I was kicked out of the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel. DINK’s is a restaurant and cocktail lounge that is Palm Springs appropriate – generous outdoor seating, mid-century modern design overtones, private booths inside, and an extensive cocktail menu.
Why did DINK’s remind me of these two things? Both of these memories shared a certain amount of contained chaos. The party in …

The reality is that we all need drama.  It is a forgotten component on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.  And, drama-created-through-risk is all around us –  and we live in that state of delicate tension more frequently than may be recognized.   That is why shows like Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Apprentice don’t romance me.  The thought of following those shows seems so dull.  After all, they are so…safe.  Where is the risk?  Brilliant editing can create the look of drama, but when really examined, is performing the fox trot …